Apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art



Nov. 3, 1953 w. E. LEWIS APPARATUS FOR RULING NEGATIVES IN PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC ART Filed April 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1953 E. LEWIS W. APPARATUS FOR RULING NEGATIVES IN PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC ART Filed April 20 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHHHH Nov. 3, 1953 A w. E. LEWIS 2,657, 6

APPARATUS FOR RULING NEGATIVES IN PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC ART Filed April 20 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n I j I I l0.

Patented Nov. 3, 1953 V UNITED STATES William, Lewis, Portland, Qreg: Annlica ni jnrilzfl, 1951, swam 222ml.

7 Claims. C11 33 46) This invention relates-to an apparatus -particular-ly adapted for carrying-out various phases of the photolithographic art'especial'l-y the-ruling of negatives and particularly those requiring double lines as inledgersheets.

The principal objective is to provide an inexpensiveandsimple apparatus;

Another objective is to providefor the accurateruling of negatives for ledger-sheets and thelike which require double lines.

Other objectives and advantages will come to thesurface as we proceed with the specification.--

Work relating to the above-art is usually laid out-on-a table having a hard unyielding-top as glass or marble. Negatives are secured to the table top-in-many-and various-ways,- no particular way being shown. Lines are cut into the negative surface with a special cutting tool. Horizontal-lines and alignments are usually made with a T-square and vertical lines and alignments with triangles in conjunction with' 'the T'-'square. The above method is-more orless crude. To make it possible to do more accurate work and more-ofit man-y complicated devices have been designed. Many of-these devices have-become too costly; not only in dollarsand cents "but in-timespentin-setting and adjusting them.

In accordance with-myobjecti-ve I have developed an inexpensive simplified apparatus whose description follows:

This device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan viewyFig. 2 -is=a-vertica-lsection on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig: 3 an elevation of'the-eccentr-icpin ofthe horizontal blade roll; Fig. 4- is an end-view'of the right hand blade stop 5- Fig. -5-is afragmentary portion of a ruled negative; Fig. 6 is a side view'of the device;-Fig. '7is an end view; Fig; B- is-a vertical section-on the center line-88 of Fig; "7; "Fig; 9 is a vertical-sectionthru the rack guide -rolls on the line 9-9 of Fig.- 1; Fig; 10-is an end viewof a modified device;-' Fig.5 -1 1; is a-vertical section on the center line I IH ofFig. 10; Fig. 112 is an elevation of'jthelocking pin ofthe modified device; 13 shows a partial diagram for laying out the line spacing o s.

Throughout the drawings and the specifi'ca tion similar numerals refer to similarv parts.

Fig. 11 shows the left hand edge of aglass top worktable l'to which is secured a supporting bracket 2 one for each end of the elongated cylindricalguide rod 3' whose ends are faced off to form a wide contacting surface 4; so that-the guide rod BInay'be prevented from rolling-when secured to'said-brackets bythe screws 5. l he brackets 2 are mounted so that the bottom surface of the horizontal blade 6 is about-5% above the-top of'the table ;I. The opposite end of-this blade is provided with a roll 7- mounted on an eccentric pin -8 positioned inthe-end of the blade 6 formed "to" receive sa-id roll 1 whichmay-be raised or lowered by manipulating its eccentric mounting pin 8- to-keep-theblade -5 a desired distance above the table topato prevent-scratching-ofanegativebeingcut:

The elongated cylindrical guide rod 3-has keyway 9 milled itsiuppc f face for thereception ofa rack l0 secured to said guide rod by two or more of the screws H The rack teeth I2 project above the guiderod '3 to mesh with the machine cut teeth I3 of the spur gear l4 mounted on the hollow shaft l5 journalled in the trunnion bearing I B press-fitted the standard H" which in turn is secured in place on the top face of the block; [Why the screws I9.

The block I8- is bored and milledto receive both the cylindrical guide rod 3 andthe rack fll-over-whichthe block" IB is movable. In the bot-tom 'face of "the block l8 are formed four wells 20 -two on eachside of the guide rod 3; Into these wells 20- projectthe eccentric end 21 of'the screws Z'Zthreadedintothe top face of the block [8; 6n this eccentric end 2t of the screws- 2 2'-. ,is mounted-the inner race 23 of the ball-bearing -24 whose outer-race 2-5 ispositionediwithin the concaveroll 2'6 and'heldtherei-n-by the washer 21 and the screw 28 threaded in the bottom end of-the eccentric end ofthe screw 22'. The concave rolls 26 are formed to the curvature ofthe guide rod-sand arebrought intointimate contact therewith by turning the screws-22 and are then heldin this position by tightening the set screws 29 against said screws 22. See Fig. 9.

On'one-endofthe hollowshaft I515 secured a-hand wheel 30' whereby said shaft I 5 "may be rotated and. with it thegear M. Oneside of the'gear I4- is mounted in close-juxtaposition to the standard-I 1' while-its opposite side is in closejuxtaposition to the cover plate-tisecured tothe standard H by the screws-32 (Fig.- '3). A sectorportion of the cover plate 31 is cut out for the reception of a radial sector or arm 33 of like thickness whose hub 34 is secured to one endof' a slidable rod 35' positioned in the bore 36 of the hollow, shaft [5. The opposit end oftheslida-ble rod- 35'is provided with a button head 31 to facilitate the endwise movement of the rod 35 and with it the radial arm 33. Between the hub 37A on the button head 3'5 and the handwheel 30 is positioned a compression spring 38 whose function is to keep or return the arm 33 into close juxtaposition with the face of the gear l4 adjacent thereto.

In the side of the gear I4 adjacent the cover plate 3| are drilled and reamed a plurality of holes 39 arranged in seven concentric circles as 40, 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46, with the holes in each circle equally spaced apart, the spacing being arrived at as follows: Using a 51 tooth, 16 diametrical pitch gear, which has a pitch circumference of approximately 10", the circumference or pitch circle may be divided into 10 equal parts each having a length of 1" on the pitch circle. One of these parts 4'! is shown in the diagram, Fig. 13, on which is also shown 7 the hole circles 40 to 4B drawn /8" apart. The hole circle 40 is shown divided into 7 parts, the hole circle 4| into 6 parts, the hole circle 42 into parts, the hole circle 43 into 4 parts, the hole circle 44 into 3 parts, the hole circle 45 into 2 parts. The hole circle 46 has no divisions, but is equal to 1 part or rather represents 1 part 41. To divide the hole circle 44 into 7 parts the pitch circle is divided into 7 parts and radial lines are drawn thru the points established on the pitch circle and thru the hole circle 4t thus dividing it into '7 equal parts regardless of what its diameter may be. The same method is followed in laying out the holes in the other hole circles.

It is apparent that since the pitch circumference of the gear I4 is it will roll along the rack II] a distance of 10 for each revolution of said gear l4 or, in other words, '70 divisions of the hole circle 48 or 7il /7ths of an inch. Since the block I8 moves when the gear I4 is rotated and the horizontal blade 5 is secured to said block I8, '10 lines of an inch apart could be ruled on a negative with one revolution of the gear l4. As long as the gear i4 is not pinned to the radial arm 33, which it may be thru the agency of the locking pin 48, it may be freely rolled back'and forth on the rack l8 by rotating the hand wheel 30. The locking pin 48 projects from the pin carrier 49 on its side adjacent the gear 44 and may enter any of the holes 39 with which it centers thereby arresting further movement of the gear M. The pin carrier 43 is formed to be slidable in the slot Si} in the radial arm 33 and is movable therein by the screw 5| upon which it is threaded and by which the locking pin 48 may be aligned with any of the holes 39 in any of the hole circles 44 to 46. The locking pin 48 may be forced out of any hole 39 which it has entered by endwise pressure on the button head 3! and it may be forced into any hole 3%! with which it centers by the tension stored up in the compressed spring 38.

The radial arm 33 is made to permit circumferential movement of about /8" between the radial boundaries 52 and 53 of the sector portion 54 removed from the cover plate 3|. The above mentioned movement may be further restricted by the adjustment of the back lash adjusting screw 55. Normally the radial arm 33 remains in contact with the sector boundary 53 since the rotation of the gear [4 is normally in that direction.

To carry out the ruling of say seven lines to the inch with -2" between double lines the looking pin 48 is brought into alignment with the holes 39 on the hole circle 4G by rotating the button head 55 on the screw 5!, and by rotating the back lash adjusting screw 55 the backward movement of the radial arm 33 may be limited to or to any other degree within the range provided. When the device has been adjusted as desired the operator removes the locking pin 48 from a hole 39 it may be in by exerting endwise pressure on the button head 3'? and then rotating the hand wheel 38 while at the same time releasing the pressure on the button head 37 to permit the spring 38 to force the locking pin 48 into the first hole 39 encountered. If a double line is desired the hand wheel 32) is rotated in the opposite direction until the radial arm contacts the back lash adjusting screw 55.

It will be apparent that if the holes 39 on each of the hole circles 40 to were properly laid out the spacing of each line will be the same which is one of my objectives. It follows then that when a negative is ruled the lines may be touched up by rotating the hand wheel in the opposite directionanother objective. Since the backward movement of the radial arm 33 is against a positive stop all guesswork in the spacing of double lines is removed-another objective.

The blade 4 is provided with a scale 5'! to facilitate the laying out of work. Slidable over this blade 5 is a head 58 having a vertical blade 59 positioned at right angles to the blade 6; This blade 59 may be provided with a scale also if desired. However, I prefer to turn the negative and use the horizontal blade 6. The blade 6 may be brought into alignment with the table edge or with stop pins generally used on layout tables by adjusting the guide rod 3 on its supporting brackets 2 one of which is slotted for the screw 5.

On the blade 5 is mounted two stops Bil to limit movement of the tool being used to cut the negative. One of these stops is shown with one right hand and one left hand being provided. They are bevelled on the ruling edge 6i with the bottom of the bevel being on the left for the right hand stop and vice versa for the left hand stop.

On the pin carrier 49 is cut a line 62 and on the radial arm the lines $3, $4, 65, 66, fil, 68, and 69, which are so positioned that when the line 82 is opposite say the line 53 the locking pin 4% may enter any of the holes 39 on the hole circle 4%.

ihe device described above admits of many modifications one in particular being illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, which will now be described.

This modified version is mounted on the layout table i as has already been described. The guide rod 3, the rack ill, the gear i4, and the block l8 with its concave guide rolls 26, are similar to those same items in the first version. The gear i4 is mounted on a hollow shaft, to which I will assign the numeral ll], journalled in the trunnion bearing ll formed to be fastened to the standard H by screws, not shown. The standard it is mounted on the block l8 with one face in close juxtaposition to one side of the gear 54 shown provided, in this instance, with only five hole circles or 44, 4!, 42, .43, and 44, on which are spaced the holes 39 whose position was determined as previously described with reference to Fig. 11. The cover plate 3| has been divided into two portions each secured to the block l8. These two portions MA and 3513 have been separated for the reception of the radial arm, assigned the numeral '52, therebetween, whose hub 13 is mounted onthebushing i4 slidably mounted-on 5. the "hollow shaft it which extends thru'and beyond said bushing 14. The handwheel 30 is mounted on'the oppositeend of said hollow shaft 16 and functions as and for the purpose previously set forth. In the present instance, the slidable rod, assigned the numeral 15, is positioned in the bore 16 of the hollow shaft 10, and extends thru and beyond. the same and is confined thereto by the button head31 on one end and a pin '3? on the end adjacent a disk 18. held against the shoulder T9, formed by counterboring the end of the hub I3, by the spring washer '88. This hub 73 is further counterbored up to the bushing M which forms a shoulder 8| for confining the compression spring 82 between it and a disk 83 mounted on the end of the hollow shaft It and held in place thereon by the spring washer 84 positioned in the groove 85 formed in said hollow shaft 70.

The cover portions BIA and SIB are positioned to provide the radial boundaries 52 and 53 which are spaced apart to permit about a A" circumferential movement of the radial arm 12 whose circumferential movement may be further restricted by the back-lash adjusting screw 55 as and for the purpose previously set forth. The radial arm 12, in this instance, is provided with five holes as 86 spaced from the center of the hollow shaft It on the same radius as the hole circle they cooperate with. Each of the holes 86 is enlarged on the top side to receive the key 81 on the locking pin carrier 88 which is provided with a knurled head 89 on one end and a reduced or locking pin portion 90 on the other end adapted to be received in any of the hole 39 on any of the hole circles 49 to 44. Endwise pressure on the button head 3! forces the rod 15 against the disk 78 which causes the hub 13 and its radial arm 12, and incidently the locking pin portion 99, to move away from the gear l4 whereupon the gear l4 may be rotated thru'the agency of the hand wheel 30 until the next hole 39 is centered with said locking pin 90. The locking pin carrier 88 is held in place by turning the key 81 into a groove 9| provided in one portion of each hole 86.

With very little practice one becomes very efiicient in handling the device which produces accurate work without guess work.

Many deviations may be made in the parts or their arrangement without departing from the basic idea and I therefore do not limit myself to the preferred or first described device or to the version last described but extend the invention to all that comes fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art, a hollow shaft, a gear mounted thereon having a plurality of holes in one side thereof arranged in a plurality of concentric circles, a radial arm axially mounted with reference to said shaft, a pin carried by the radial arm and adapted to be moved into alignment with a desired hole circle, a spring to urge the pin to enter a hole in said hole circle when centered therewith, and a rod slidable in said hollow shaft to move the pin out of the hole.

2. In an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art, a rack, a block movable over the rack, a ruling blade attached to the block, a standard on the block, a cover plate attached to the standard formed with spaced apart portions which constitute a pair of stops, a hollow shaft journalled in the standard, means to rotate the shaft, a gear on said shaft in mesh 6 with the rack having a plurality of holes in one side. thereof arranged in a plurality of concentric circles those in each circle equally spaced a predetermined distancetapart, a. radial arm movable axially with respect to the shaft andcircumferenti'ally between the stops one of which limits the circumferentialmovement of .said radial arm ina forward direction and the other said move ment ina backward direction, means in connection with the backward movement stop to fix the.

desired limit of said backward movement of the radial arm, a locking pin carried by the radial armadapted togbe moved into alignment with a desired hole circle, a spring to move said arm axiallytoward the gear to permit the locking pin to enter a hole in said hole circle when centered therewith, and a rod slidable in said hollow shaft to move the radial arm away from the gear to remove the locking pin therefrom to permit the gear to be rotated independent of the arm.

3. Such an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art as set forth in claim 2 but with a handwheel to rotate the hollow shaft positioned on one end thereof and with the spring-resisted slide rod within said hollow shaft extended from the same end to permit the operator to rotate the handwheel and apply pressure to the rod end at the same time with the same hand.

4. In an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art, a rack, a block movable over the rack, a line ruling means movable with the block, a hollow shaft mounted on said block, a gear on said shaft in mesh with the rack having a plurality of holes in one face thereof, a handwheel to rotate the gear, a radial arm mounted for axial and circumferential movement with respect to the shaft, a stop secured to the block to limit the normal forward position of the radial arm, a pin carried by the arm adapted to be moved into alignment with a desired hole circle, a spring to urge the arm axially toward the gear to permit the pin to enter a hole in said hole circle when centered therewith to arrest the forward rotation of the gear, a rod slidable within the hollow shaft to move the arm axially away from the gear and the pin from said hole, a second stop spaced from the first mentioned stop to limit the distance the arm may be moved in the opposite direction when pinned to the rear and rotated therewith.

5. Such an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art as set forth in claim 4 but with an arm contacting screw positioned in the second mentioned stop and adjustable to limit the backward circumferential movement of the arm to the desired distance.

6. In an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art, in combination, a rack, a block having a ruling blade attached thereto movable over the rack, a rotatable shaft carried by the block, means for its rotation, a gear mounted on said shaft adjacent the block in mesh with the rack, a cover plate secured to the block having spaced apart portions, a radial arm mounted for axial and circumferential movement with respect to said shaft between the cover plate portions, the distance between said portions being greater than the width of the arm to permit circumferential movement of said arm, and means mounted on one portion of said cover plate to limit said circumferential movement of the arm to a desired degree.

7. In an apparatus for ruling negatives in the photolithographic art, in combination, a rack, a block movable over the rack having ruling means 7 attached, a gear carried by the block in mesh with the rack and having indexing holes therein, a radial arm mounted for axial and circumferential movement with respect to the gear, means movable with the block to limit the circumferential movement of the arm to a desired degree, a pin carried by the arm to engage gear indexing holes, resilient means to urge the arm axially toward the gear to permit the pin to enter a gear hole and hence the rotation of the arm with the gear, and manually operated means to move the arm axially away from the gear and the pin from the hole and hence the rotation of the gear free of the arm.

WILLIAM E. LEWIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Gardam Sept. 2, 1884 B012 et a1. Jan. 5, 1886 Low Apr. 13, 1909 Shields et a1. Aug. 5, 1919 Poitras Sept. 25, 1923 Browning July 9, 1946 Dodge June 3, 194'? Brodie Nov. 2, 1948 

